Ruckus Wireless today introduced the first Wi-Fi Wall Switch (the ZoneFlex
7025) that integrates high speed 802.11n Wi-Fi technology with wired Ethernet
ports into an elegant, inconspicuous and low-profile wall jack that fits into
any standard United States or European electrical
junction box.
The Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch redefines the deployment model and cost
structure for hotels looking to converge their wired and wireless networks into
a single infrastructure capable of reliably connecting a new world of in-room
IP-based devices and services. For the first time, hotels are now able to offer
multiple, high-value IP-based services over a single wired/wireless network at
the highest performance and lowest cost per room.
Complementing the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch, the company also today unveiled
its new ZoneSwitch line of affordable 802.3at/af power over Ethernet (POE)
switches.
"For hotels, the first thing that must be achieved from a guest technology
perspective is wireless everywhere," said Douglas
Rice, Executive Vice President and CEO of Hotel Technology Next
Generation (HTNG), a non-profit industry trade association. "Beyond that, the
hospitality market clearly sees the enormous benefits that an IP-based network
brings in delivering a better guest experience, new services that will drive
customer loyalty and better staff productivity across their hotels."
The Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch was purposely developed to meet the growing
demands within hotels to connect in-room devices that are now IP-enabled while
concurrently supporting a broader range of IP-based services. Beyond high-speed
Internet access (HSIA), hotels want to deliver these new services – such as high
definition television and video on demand (VOD), digital advertising, voice
communications, hotel service optimization, in-room device monitoring and even
environmental room controls – over a single, unified and centrally managed
wired/wireless network.
With the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch, hotels have a simple in-room device that
addresses these requirements and solves IT problems that have long hampered
hotels such as:
- Operating disparate wired and wireless networks,
- Unsightly cables and network devices within hotel guest rooms,
- Installing more Ethernet cables in guest rooms and other areas to connect
new IP-based devices, - Running additional Ethernet cabling to support standalone Wi-Fi access
points, - Deploying in-room switches and other infrastructure necessary for network
connectivity and, - Retrofitting furniture and hotel aesthetics to hide or accommodate
networking equipment.
The Ruckus ZoneFlex Wi-Fi Wall Switch is also ideal for filling "void areas"
within hotels and schools such as corners of buildings, conference rooms and
other locations where ubiquitous wired and wireless coverage is not pervasive.
For many hotels, Ethernet access in conference rooms is typically handled by
bringing in a switch to provide wired connectivity if wireless isn’t available.
The Ruckus ZoneFlex Wi-Fi Wall Switch eliminates this problem allowing multiple
devices to connect using both wires and Wi-Fi. In addition the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall
Switch is perfect for service providers and property owners seeking to deliver
high value IP-based services to their customers.
Hotel Nirvana
For many existing hotels Ethernet cabling is sparse or not available in every
guest room. Even in locations such as the front desk, conference rooms, meeting
spaces and business centers, Ethernet ports and wireless connectivity is
limited.
Hotels that have deployed an extensive wired Ethernet network often need more
ports to connect new IP-enabled devices and to support new multimedia services.
Ethernet switches can be installed in guest rooms, but this requires more power,
can be disruptive and often involves custom furniture design to hide the
devices. This adds significant cost, complexity and management problems.
According to industry estimates, running a single Ethernet cable can cost up
to $250 per guest room. When Wi-Fi access points,
network switches, and other infrastructure products essential to running a
computer network are added that cost can rise to $500 or more per room. The Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch
effectively cuts this cost in half.
For many hoteliers, Wi-Fi has been an afterthought to the wired network with
access points being retrofitted throughout the property to provide a base level
of wireless connectivity to guests. But as many new services and hotel devices
embrace IP as the preferred method of connectivity and management, the
requirement for a unified wired and wireless network has quickly become a
necessity.
"Today’s hotel guests depend on both wired and wireless high-speed Internet,
and it can be difficult or expensive for existing hotels to do both well. Many
hotels need devices that support both, and that can be easily installed into
existing infrastructures," said Rice.
Enter the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch
Deployed as a standalone device or centrally managed by any ZoneDirector
wireless LAN controller or Ruckus FlexMaster Wi-Fi management system, the Ruckus
Wi-Fi Wall Switch reduces the cost and complexity of installing and managing
wired and wireless network services.
The Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch is driven by a single POE connection and
provides four 10/100 Mbps Ethernet jacks and two uplink Ethernet wiring options.
Additionally, the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch uses POE to power a device such as an
IP phone and provides native connectivity to digital phones through a single
digital PBX pass through port.
Introducing the Ruckus ZoneSwitch
The Ruckus ZoneSwitch 4000 series is a family of fully-managed,
rack-mountable, Layer 2, 24-port 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet POE switches. Each
ZoneSwitch offers full security, QoS and management features and provides four
dual-personality ports that support pluggable fiber transceivers for easy and
flexible network uplink.
Completely interoperable with Ruckus ZoneFlex APs, the ZoneSwitch comes in
two models. The ZoneSwitch 4224 offers 375 watts of power over Ethernet and
supports 12 concurrent IEEE 802.3at or 24 concurrent 802.3af connections across
all ports. The ZoneSwitch 4124 offers 180 watts of power over Ethernet and
supports 12 concurrent IEEE 802.3af connections across all ports. The Ruckus
ZoneSwitch line will support central management through the Ruckus FlexMaster
system.
With the addition of the ZoneFlex Wi-Fi Wall Switch and ZoneSwitch line of
POE, Ruckus offers an unmatched solution for the hospitality industry that
includes: indoor and outdoor smart Wi-Fi access points, scalable centralized
controllers, multimedia video adapters, long-range point to point bridges and
remote Wi-Fi management.
Pricing and Availability
Available in the fourth quarter of this year, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7025 Wi-Fi
Wall Switch is priced at US $249. The Ruckus
ZoneSwitch 4224 and 4124, available in the third quarter of this year, are
priced at US $1,999 and US $1,399 respectively.
